with many of them; for a few miles further on they are received unwillingly, or are altogether rejected. These coins, though bearing the present Emperor's name both in Chinese and Manchou characters, are said to be the production of private mints;—the professed objection to their receipt being that they are cast of an inferior metal and below the Imperial touch. Only the Carolus dollar will be received in change at any of the cities,—Mexican or other stamps being repudiated.
The temples, the only fine buildings at Sing-chong, are without the walls. The river bed which, at a distance from it of from one to two hundred feet, runs along the eastern wall, though shallow generally, is wide. In fact it is a double stream crossed from the east for lengths of two to three hundred feet each, with two bridges of stout planks and trussels. Between the stream and the wall the ground is covered with Mulberry and Tallow trees, over wheat and other cultivation. Indigo is cultivated in this region too. A short distance west of the city is a seminary for the education of respectable youth,—and a little beyond, it may be seen a five storied pagoda, crowning a hill overlooking the road from Sing-chong to Dzing. This pagoda marks the boundary of the Sing chong district.
Dzing, or Dzing Yuen, Yuen or heen signifying the chief city of a district,—lies about N. W. from Sing chong yuen;—though for a third or so of the distance of twelve miles between the two places, the road runs to the southward of west into a plain. Ten lē from the Tow-va-sze, is the hamlet of San-chee of Thirty families;—Four lē further, W. by N. is So-chee-deo, a hamlet of similar size; and Dow-chee, a village of 100 families lies a little
